The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
SEEING THE QUEEN.
An American GIimpses Queen victoria on
Rotten Row, Hyde Park.

An American GIimpses Queen Victoria on
Rotten Row, Hyde Park
Beverly Chump's Letter.
got good glimpse at the Queen the other
afternoon, and that is quite a rare tnlng TOT
strangers. Her Majesty seldom occupies Buck-
ingham Palace her London residence, ana only
comes into town on occasions or ceremony
Even during the jubilee ceremonies last summer
she preferred to remain at Windsor and run IN
to London by rail whenever her presence was
necessary there rather than sleep at buckIhg-
ham. L have made many inquiries Oh PeIople
who ought to know. but nobody seems able TO
tell why she does not like the place. Inc near
est can get at it is. that there are some asso-
Citations connected with the grand old mansion
which the Duke of Buckingham erected lOo
years ago and sold to her grandfather-some
sorrowful associations with the late frlnce
Consort
When she comes to London by train she
uses half dozen special cars, fitted up tor her
exclusive use, which are always kept IN readl-
ness at Slough station, couple OF miles from
Windsor. Or if she is at Osborne Castle. on
the Isle of Wight. where she spends two-thlrds
of her time, she goes across the bay to Ports
mouth on the royal yacht and then takes the
cars. 1t isn't often she travels, and the railway
and police officials are very glad of it. The
track has to be patrolled. the royal train must
haye the right way all the stations must be
London end of the line business is actually sus-
pended for a time till her Majesty has peen
taken care of.
When she intends to take trip the private
lain notifies the railway officials and the ponce
authorities of London. The former prepare the
royal train and the latter bring out about hair
their force to escort her. party of detectives
go to Windsor and come up on train They
have car to themselves and are we'll taken
care of, but it isn't very pleasant duty When
she enters the cars or leaves them they sur
round her person and remain by her side till
she is in the state carriage and protected by
her body-guard of horsemen. The queens
Guards are picked men, the finest in the army,
and ia a
ferred to that regiment. They are selected Tor
their stature and soldierly accomplishments,
their horsemanship and general Inte !. nee
other branch of the service Their uniform Is
a bright scarlet; they ride immense black
chargers and carry sabres and carblnes. When.
ever the Queen is out of doors detachment OF
them surround her carriage and ride SO as 10
protect her with their bodies.
The route of the Queen from the station to
Buckingham Palace lies through Hyde Park and
the famous boulevard Rotten Row. and it was
there I saw her she passed. Through the
kindness of Mr.. Littlechild, the chief OF detect
ives at Great Scotland yard, who always has
charge of the precautionary measures, was
informed as to the exact route her Majesty
would take and the exact time she would pass a
certain point on Rotten Row, so got tally no
coach, and riding out there took my station by
the roadside and waited for her to come. If
1 had been in any ordinary CARNAGE could
not have seen her. because of the horsemen
who surrounded her, but from the top of the
coach could look down over their heads
There was a line of patrolmen from Padding
ton station to Buckingham Palace. distance of
a mile or more so near to each other that they
could easily converse, and every one OF them
had his eyes and ears wide open which showed
the value of pass from Mr. Lhttlechud- Ihey
asked no questions, but simply passed the word
along that we Were party OF Americans with
a card from the chief
After waiting quarter OF an hour or more
for my party prompt, as her Majesty was
also. to the exact minute, L saw group or
brilliant red coated horsemen coming down the
broad shaded avenue, galloping ike mad. 1t
brilliant spectacle, like cavalry charge
for they had their sabres drawn and at their
shoulders. At their head rode one of the mas
tiers of her Majesty's horse. or groom IN walt
ing, don't know which, but it makes no differ
ence, riding alone at a trot. although the rest
of the horsemen galloped He was in red also,
wore lots of gold lace and black cooked hat
and looked as if he realized his Importance.
Then came four mounted carbineers abreast.
with their guns their hips and their hands on
the triggers, ready for any emergency. Then
forty or more of the handsome guards, sitting
their black steeds like centaurs, and their silver
trapping jingling like music.
In the midst of them was the state carriage, a
most gorgeous affair of yellow and black, with a
crest on the door as large a washtub-the
royal arms. 1t was drawn by four large horses,
each ridden by groom wearing the royal livery
of scarlet coats. white breeches. high hats with
gold bands. and broad strip of black Grape
around the left arm, the symbol of mourning
that has never been taken off since Prince Al
bert died, and never will be as long as Queen Vic
toria lives. Upon the high seat in 'front.' where
the coachmen should have been, sat two foot
men in black with white silk knee breeches and
powdered hair. and upon corresponding seat
over the hind wheels were two brawny Scotch
men, gillies, in the Highland costume with their
big sabres at their shoulders. Her Majesty
never goes anywhere without these two men.
When she sits upon the throne they are behind
her; when she walks in her park they al
ways within call. This was the duty the famous
John Brown performed. and he did good serv-
ice in having twice saved Nictorias life One
of the men saw served with Brown. and the
. other selected for his place when he died.
On the back seat of the carriage sat bolt up
right a fat little woman, with very red face,
almost as broad as tall. clad in black silk and a
small old fashioned black bonnet with widow
veil thrown over her shoulders. She didn't look
much like an empress. and the ladies' of my
party insisted that she more resembed wash
erwoman. but she bowed graciously to us as we
lifted our hats. and doubtless recognized
Americans all others do.
There were three young ladies in the carriage
with her. dressed in white muslin, and looking
very prim They were her granddaughters.
the daughters of Fritz" the Crown Prince of
Prussia, and the Prince of Wales, rather plain
girls, all the royal children are. AS they
passed me they exchanged some remarks with
the Queen which would have given a world to
have overheard, for they were evidently about
the ladies of my party, as pretty a group of
American girls as ever decorated the top of a
tally-ho coach. 1t was but an instant and the
royal party out of sight, followed by a
couple of carriages containing Prince Batten-
berg the husband of Beatrice, and several other
gentlemen and ladies whom could not dlstln-
guish.
Traffic was stopped on all the streets through
which the royal party passed. but it was only
for moment SO admirable were the police ar
engagements Notwithstanding all the precau-
tons. it is said that the Queen always fears
theses drives. for she has been shot at seven
times since she assumed the throne and fears
that the next bullet may do its work The
police authorities say there is no danger to her
person except from the cranks, but it is just as
well to take the precautions
Not long ago when the Queen was coming
from Osborne, the detectives noticed a strager
in the car with them. He well dressed and
appeared like gentleman. He said little,
offered a well-6lled cigar-case and seemed
to be familiar with the names of the persons in
the party. They took him to be some attache of
the household and asked no questions. till. on
the arrival of the train at London Colonel Pom
sonby, the Queens secretary, was asked who he
was The latter. who had taken him to be a
detective. expressed surprise when told that he
was not, and the arrested. When
taken to Great Scotland-yard it was disclosed
that he was a young gentleman from London
who had made bet with some friends at his